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Tuesday, 6 September 2011

Elsa Schiaparelli

This outrageous women is my ultimate hero.
Her rival at the time, Coco Chanel, was nothing compared to this art couture genius.
I could gush my heart out about her all day but the truth is, Schiaparelli has clearly influenced fashion over centuries, daring to be different and make a stand that women don't have to look beautiful all the time, interesting is so much more feminine.

Not even trained as a seamstress, her creative flare for surrealistic designs stunned the world as the unusual and quirky. Although, this caused problems for 'schiap' (her friends called her) as her creations were so innovative yet easy to copy. Her designs lived on through copies of high street which was disappointing because Schiap was not only an artist but a extremely talented designer who inspired the world of anti-fashion.

Time magazine quoted;

“ Though her fame continues to spread, one thing keeps Schiaparelli, now in her middle thirties, from becoming the very smartest of the Paris dressmakers. Her designs are too easy to copy. The mutton sleeves and tray shoulders which she sponsored last year were instantly popular on the Champs-Elysees and Manhattan's Park Avenue. But it was not long before every little dress factory in Manhattan had copied them and from New York's 3rd Avenue to San Francisco's Howard Street millions of shop girls who had never heard of Schiaparelli were proudly wearing her models.”

One particular celebrity I believe has been heavily influenced by Elsa Schiaparelli is none other than Lady Gaga.

If you see her eccentric clothing and accessories she has worn, comparing them to what Elsa has designed you can tell Miss Gaga is a fan.

The meat dress Gaga wore could have been inspired by Schiap's lamb chop hat:

Even the surrealistic lobster dress Elsa designed could have inspired her Lobster hat:

I could go on and on and on about how inspirational Elsa schiaparelli is and how she has helped shaped and create the world of fashion we live in today.

I don't believe Schiaparelli is given enough credit and appreciation for what she has done.

Yes, Coco Chanel is more remembered but in all honesty there was no creativity and freedom in her work compared to Schiap.